Apparatus for flushing water cooling systems



Dec. 19, 1933.

E. R. YTOLFREE APPARATUS FOR FLUSHIHG WATER COOLING ,SYSTZIS Filed Jan.2. 1930 Patented Dec. 19 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FORFLUSHING WATER coonmo SYSTEMS This invention relates to equipmentemployed for the purpose of removing sediment of various sorts from thewater jackets of automobile engines and the radiators connectedtherewith, or from other similar systems. In the normal course ofoperation of systems of this sort, a

certain amount of scale, rust and other sedi-- ment accumulates in thecorners and crevices and, if it is not periodically removed, it may intime serve to completely stop up a portion of the system and possiblydisable the system altogether. For this reason it has been recognized asdesirable to periodically drain off the water, or other cooling mediumemployed, and to replace it by a fresh supply. The expedient hasoccasionally been adopted in the past of flowing a continuous stream ofwater through such a system in an effort to dislodge particles ofsediment but for various reasons this has not proved entirely effectivenor satisfactory.

I have found that to obtain completely satisfactory results it isnecessary to systematically follow out a series of steps which involvefirst introducing into the system a compound or solution which, inconjunction with the water, will tend to loosen particles of scale orrust from the inner walls of the system. These particles should then beflushed out in the usual way; fairly satisfactory results are obtainedin this way. However, by subsequently applying periodical shocks orpulsations of pressure to a stream of water, or other flushing medium,passed through the system, the results obtained are very materiallyimproved. In fact this final step, if properly carried out, will befound quite effective without the preceding steps as a means ofeliminating a large percentage of the objectionable sediment.

An object of the present invention has been to devise suitableattachments which are both simple and effective for use in theseflushing operations, particularly the final step mentioned, and whichwill permit water or other fluid to be forced through the system and besubjected to occasional impulses of relatively high pressure. Incarrying out my improved method, I have found it advantageous tointroduce the flushing medium continuouslyand to produce the desiredshocks by way of suddenly and intermittently varying the pressure on thefluid through the introduction of compressed air, or the like. Ifdesired, the flushing medium might also be introduced intermittentlyrather than continuously but I find the variation in pressure alone tobe more convenient and more effective.

A specific feature of the invention is the provision of an attachment ofthe character mentioned which may be inserted into fittings of varioussorts having openings of different dimensions and which may, at the sametime, be readily held in place without danger of being separated fromthe fitting at a time when the sudden shocks or pressure increases areapplied to the system. The construction contemplated is such;furthermore, that a tight joint is provided between the attachment ornozzle and the fitting into which it is inserted. This is an importantconsideration as it lends greatly to the effectiveness of the operation.A

Other features and advantages of the novel equipment forming a part ofthe present invention and of the preferred method of cleaning orflushing out a water circulating system, such as the cooling system ofan automobile, or the like, will be made apparent as the detaileddescription progresses in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an engine and radiator showing thenew flushing devices attached, and

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view of the fiushing nozzle forming apart of the present invention. A

Referring now to Figure 1, there is conventionally shown a coolingsystem, such as is embodied in practically any type of automobile. Theengine 10 is provided with a water jacket, surrounding the cylinders,adapted to carry a continuously circulating body of water, or similarcooling medium, during operation of the machine. In front of the enginethere is provided the usual radiator 11 adapted to receive therelatively hot water which has been passed through the jacket of theengine and has picked up considerable heat from the latter. Theconnection between the water jacket and the radiator mayrcomprise amanifold 12 and flexible hose 13 attached to a fitting 110 at the top ofthe radiator. The water then descends in the radiator and is cooled by astream of air passing through the latter. the radiator the water whichhas been cooled to a certain extent is passed through a flexible hose 14which may lead directly to a manifold 15 connected to the bottom of thewater jacket of the engine, if thermosyphonic action is depended uponfor the circulation of the water, or which may be connected to aninterposed From the bottom of pump 16 if forced circulation is desired.In the ordinary operation of the machine the water will be continuouslycirculated through the jacket of the engine and through the radiator,from the top to the bottom of the latter, in the manner indicated.

Now, when it is desired to remove the accumulated sediment from thesystem, the following procedure should be adopted: A suitable quantityof any well known type of scaleremoving compound or solution, which willnot harmfully afiect the copper, brass, aluminum, rubber, and similarmaterials commonly utilized in systems of the type contemplated, shouldbe introduced into the radiator through the usual opening at the top.The engine should then be started up and continued in operation underconditions which will cause it to heat up excessively. This may be doneby closing off the front of the radiator by any suitable means toprevent, in whole or in part, the passage of cooling air through theradiator. After the water and special compound have been cir-, culatedthrough the system and the water has been brought to a boilingtemperature and maintained in such condition for a suitable time, say aperiod of ten or fifteen minutes, a pet-cock 111 located at the bottomof the radiator, or at any other suitable point in the cooling system,should be opened while the engine is continued in operation. At the sametime flushing water should be introduced through the usual opening atthe top of the radiator and this water should be circulated through thesystem until the discharge from the outlet 111 is clean and apparentlyfree from sediment. This operation will serve to free and remove a largepart of the rust, scale and dirt from the system but it will noteffectively remove accumulations of these particles which may havebecome deposited upon shoulders and in sharp corners within the system.

To effectively remove accumulations of the type specified, I have foundit necessary to employ special flushing devices which preferably includeas a primary element a nozzle 17 of particular construction. This nozzlehas a tapered body or shank provided with a large central cavity. Thewall surrounding the cavity is annular in cross-section and convergestoward the outlet end, as best indicated in Figure 2. The outer surfaceof this wall is provided with a series of protuberances l8 anddepressions 19 extending circumferentially of the nozzle. Theseprotuberances and depressions are so formed as to present a smoothcorrugated surface which is entirely free from abrupt shoulders and ispreferably free from flat faces. They constitute what may be termed agentle undulation in the outer surface of the nozzle. It will beunderstood that due to the general taper of the device as a whole, thesuccessive annular protuberances are 'of graduated diameter, increasingfrom the outlet end of the nozzle toward the opposite or inlet end. Anextension 20 at the inlet end of the device is preferably threaded atits outer end to receive the fitting or coupling of an ordinary waterhose. A sometaining pin in the customary way, at its opposite end. Thisstructure, therefore, serves to provide the desired function ofadmitting air into the device whenever desired but it prevents thepassage of water or other fluid in the opposite direction.

Now, in the use of the device, as shown in Figure l, the hose 13 ispreferably detached from the radiator fitting 110 and the smaller end ofthe tapered body of the nozzle is inserted into the free end of the hoseuntil a tight flt is obtained. At this time the clamping ring 131, whichwill have been loosened slightly to permit the detachment of the hosefrom the radiator, may be tightened around the adjacent depression 19 inthe surface of the nozzle. A hose 26, formed preferably simply of aflexible piece of canvas, may be placed over the fitting 110 and may betied to the latter by means of a string, or the'like, so as to form asubstantially water-tight joint. The opposite end of the hose may leadto any suitable point for disposal of fittings of various dimensions andprovide substantially water-tight joints therewith.

After the completion of the preliminary cleaningoperations explainedhereinbefore, the devices 17 and 26 are applied to the engine andradiator in the way indicated and awater-hose 27 extending from aspigot, or any other suitable source of water, is connected to theextension 20 of the nozzle while an air-hose 28 extending from anysuitable source of compressed air, or similar gaseous medium, isconnected to the projection 21 of the nozzle. Water is then continuouslyintroduced into the cooling system through the nozzle 17 and themanifold 12 while the engine is left out of operation. This water willflow, under the preferred conditions specifled, in the oppositedirection to the normal flow of the water through the system and will beforced out at the top of the radiator into the hose 26. It will beunderstood that the pet-cock 111 is at this time closed. After the waterhas completely filled the system and is freely flowing from the end ofthe hose 26, compressed air, or other gaseous medium, is preferablyintroduced during a number of successive brief periods of a few secondsthrough the check-valve 22. The application of the air should berepeated at intervals of a few seconds until sub-- stantially all of theremovable sediment has' been set free and discharged from the system.The production of the intermittent shocks or sudden increases inpressure may be effected either by manipulation of a valve connectedwith the source of the compressed air or by merely applying the usualchuck of a tire pump hose to the end of the check-valve 22intermittently' during the brief intervals desired.

It may be found advantageous and somewhat more effective to separatelyapply the shock flushing action to the engine water-jacket and to theradiator. For this purpose the hose 14 may be disconnected from the pumpso that when the nozzle 17 is inserted in the hose 13, as shown, the.water or similar medium will be passed only through the engine jacket.and through the pump 16. After this part of the system has beensatisfactorily cleaned out, the

nozzle 17 may be inserted into the end of the hose 14 so that the shocksor pressure pulsations of the flushing medium maybe applied. in asimilar way, merely to the radiator.-

While the novel flushing devices have been described in considerabledetail, and a quite speciflcmethod of flushing the water cooling systemof an automobile has been set forth. it is to be understood that manymodifications may be made in the particular form of the devices employedand in the particular procedure followed without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, while the invention hasbeen disclosed as being especially useml in connection withthe 000111 8tems of automobiles, it will be understood that the method and equipmentmay bev applied to advantage to any similar system in which sedimentcollects in certained confined spaces from which it should be removed atperiodic intervals. The terms employed in the foregoing disclosure areused merely by way of describing one form of the invention and are notto'be regarded as imposing any limitations thereon.

What I claim is:

1. A flushing nozzle comprising a tapered hollowbody having a freeoutlet at the smaller end thereof. a projection adapted to receive theend of a water hose, a second projection adapted to receive an air hose,said projections, entering saidbodyatanacuteangletotheaxisofthe body andbeing arranged to provide a free flow of the water and air toward saidoutlet, and a check valve in said second projection, the outer surfaceof said body being smoothly formed into a series of graduatedprotuberances adapted to said inlets extending into said body portion at4 angles of less than 45 to the axis of said portion. said body portionhaving a discharge opening at its opposite end.

